BEEKMAN – Two Dutchess County Sheriff’s deputies are being credited with saving a motorist by pulling the individual from a burning car on Friday afternoon.
The two officers located the accident on Route 55 in the Town of Beekman where a vehicle had run off the road and caught fire. The deputies, one of whom was off duty, quickly removed the unconscious driver, who was alone in the car, while a passerby put out the fire with a fire extinguisher.
Police said the victim, whose name was not released, suffered serious injuries and was taken to MidHudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie.
One of the two deputies involved was treated and released at the scene for smoke inhalation. The passerby left the scene before he could be identified.
Police said preliminary investigation determined the car was westbound on Route 55 near Palmer Circle when the driver lost control, ran off the road and struck a tree.
Deputies were assisted at the scene by State Police and Town of Beekman firefighters.
